BMC to conduct fresh probe into body found in pit

After receiving flak for the preliminary report on the incident where a 35-year-old man’s body was found in a 20-ft-deep pit in Mulund, the civic body has decided to conduct an in-depth inquiry. An officer of the level of the deputy municipal commissioner will head the probe.

After receiving flak for the preliminary report on the incident where a 35-year-old man’s body was found in a 20-ft-deep pit in Mulund, the civic body has decided to conduct an in-depth inquiry. An officer of the level of the deputy municipal commissioner will head the probe.

On January 12, autorickshaw driver Siyaram Yadav’s body was found in a pit dug by a civic contractor on BR Road near Indraprasth hotel. The pit had been dug for the laying of a new sewage line.

Corporators came down heavily on the administration of the BMC demanding an explanation. They alleged that attempts were made by senior officials to silence the family by paying them Rs 1.5 lakh as compensation. “How has the BMC decided that the cost of a life that has been lost due to their negligence could be Rs1.5 lakh?” asked Mulund corporator Manoj Kotak, who raised the issue in the civic general body meeting on Monday.

Shiv Sena corporator Prabhakar Shinde alleged that the ward officer and the engineer of the maintenance department could not be reached on their phones when the incident occurred. “The next day when a mob came to the ward office, the ward officer was not in her cabin,” said Shinde.

Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner, said the role of the ward officer and her response to the incident would be checked. “The report is expected in the next 10 days and whoever found neglecting their duties will be punished,” she said. She added that the BMC would give security guidelines to civic officials.